Not all of us are blessed with long luscious curls, but that’s not to say we can’t achieve this sought after look. Whether you have poker straight hair or just want a bit of extra bounce in your natural wave, investing in a good curling wand can make all the difference.
But choosing the right one for your hair can prove tricky, as there are a range of different curlers on the market that offer different things and it’s not always easy to know if you’re going to get on with the styling method or if it will adapt to your hair well or not. From tongs to wands and specific stylers, we’ve picked out a wide selection of the best hair curlers to help you achieve your desired curls with ease.
The most important thing when trying to achieve the curls you want is picking the right barrel size. The bigger the barrel the looser the curl, so for beachy waves and effortless curls, a 1 ½ inch barrel is ideal. For smaller and tighter curls, barrels under 1 inch work most effectively. If you’re completely new to hair styling and cannot decide on the best hair curling iron for you, opt for something straight down the middle at 1 inch so you can play around with different styles.
Different types of hair will also require different levels of heat in order to achieve a style that lasts, as one of the most common complaints is that curls drop out very quickly after styling. If you’ve got thin hair, it is recommended to keep the temperature fairly low to avoid damage, and try not to apply heat any higher than 300 degrees. Thicker hair has a little more strength but never exceed 400 degrees if you want to keep your hair in the best condition it can be.
Then there are the different shapes and styles of curling iron. Most commonly, curling irons have a clamp that holds the hair in place while you curl and wands require you to manually guide and hold the hair in place. Some of the best hair curlers can set you back as much as £200, but if you’re looking for something to ease you into the world of hair styling, we’ve picked plenty of options that won’t break the bank and will give you a great introduction into achieving beautiful, bouncy curls!
GHD is renowned for its hair stylers and the soft curl tong is no exception. The large barrel is perfect for creating loose, effortless waves on any length of hair. The spring activated barrel helps to create volume and bounce and the high temperature setting is great for locking in your curls all day and night.
For that salon quality blow dry look, try the Cloud Nine Waving Wand. Its large barrel works with 3 different temperature settings that allow you to take the best care of your hair when styling. The barrels are also mineral-infused, meaning your hair is left sleek and shiny when finished. The handy kick-stand allows you to rest the wand down when parting hair without the risk of burning the carpet or furniture.
This curling wand is great for creating fun and flirty curls for any occasion. This wand creates smaller curls for a super bouncy look. It has a cool tip so it makes it far easy to curl the hair without burning your fingers and a safety stand so you can carefully rest your tongs down while styling the hair. This wand isn’t much different than the other GHD Curve Soft Curl wand, except it works better on longer hair when wanting to achieve a spirally flowing curl.
For those of you who love to change your style every week, then the T3 Whirl Trio styling wand is perfect for you! You’ll get three different barrel sizes so you can achieve wavy mermaid hair or springy blow-dry curls and anything in between. This wand also looks beautiful with its white barrel and rose gold accents, making it a great gift idea for those hair styling fanatics.
If you want to create natural looking waves, then the twisted barrel on this BaByliss Diamond Waves Wand will help you achieve a long-lasting glamorous hairstyle with ease. It has 5 heat settings which makes it great for all hair types as you can tailor the temperature to fine or thick hair so that you do not cause any damage. Some people prefer a wand with a clamp to help keep the hair in place, but the grooves in this wand guide the hair into place and only takes a couple of seconds to curl each strand, creating shine as you style. Brush out afterwards if you want to create an even fuller wavy look.
